Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service hosted its first in-person Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub event on Wednesday, 17 November, at Crowthorne Community Fire Station.
The Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub is designed to offer a place for veterans to come together, listen to speakers and meet organisations who can provide them with advice or support them and meet each other. The Veterans’ Hub forms part of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces. It was launched virtually in Royal Berkshire on Saturday, 7 November 2020, following receipt of the Gold Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme in 2020.
At the event, veterans were able to speak to organisations including the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service, Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA), the Association of ex-Service Drop-In Centres, Forces Online, Royal British Legion Crowthorne, and Royal Navy Association Bracknell.
Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards, as guest speaker, spoke to attendees about his career as a Tornado pilot in the RAF, as well as about his father, who was a Hurricane pilot in the Battle of Britain.
Councillor Angus Ross, Honorary Armed Forces Champion for Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said: “I was delighted that we were able to host our first in-person Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub at such a poignant time of year. As a Fire Authority, we’re committed to supporting our Armed Forces and our veterans who have given so much to serving their country. The Armed Forces Veterans’ Hubs are just one of the ways in which we do this, and we look forward to developing and strengthening our ties with veterans across the County in the months and years to come.”
The details of the next Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub meetings will be available on our website in the New Year.
For more information on how the Service supports the Armed Forces, please visit rbfrs.co.uk/armedforces.